Goodwill Thrift Stores

Goodwill Industries

Goodwill is a 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization.  They provide job training, employment placement services and other various programs for those with disabilities.  They operate a network of retail thrift stores stocked with donated items to run their organization.  It was founded in 1902 by Reverend Edjar J. Helms of the Morgan Methodist Church of Boston, Massachusetts.  Today Goodwill operates over 2600 stores and an online auction site - shopgoodwill.com.  In 2014 they did over 5.37 billion dollars in revenue.  

Shopping Goodwill

Goodwill uses a color coded price tag system to manage their stock.  It rotates in this order:

• BLACK    
• CLEAR
• BLUE       
• YELLOW  
• GREEN    
• RED         

Every Sunday they change the color and for that week that color is 50% off.  So look at the tags when shopping.  I mostly check out 50% off neckties.  After 6-7 weeks anything that is really good is usually long gone with some exceptions.  Around where I am at Inkjet printers and ink seem to go overlooked, if you know what store to look in.  Below are some examples of the tags.

Usually is it pretty easy to tell what color the tag is but see below.

All three of these are considered 'blue'.  The one on the left is the normal 'blue' tag for clothes.  In the middle is a 'clear' tag with a blue sticker and blue plastic price tag holder.  This is also blue.  The blue price sticker is like what you will find on something bigger like a puzzle or houseware.  The one on the right is also a 'clear' tag but it has the 'blue' plastic price tag holder.  Pay attention to the tags. 

Pricing consistency 

As far as I can see there is none.  It seems to be up to the individual store or employee.  Most notably is in the clothing section.  One store will have neckties for $1.99 and others $3.99.  Some will consider "Polo by Ralph Lauren" a premium shirt while others will not.  I have found a complete working Keurig coffee maker for $19.99 at one store and one in pieces, same model $29.99 at another.  Puzzles can go for 99 cents to 4.99 for no reason whatsoever. 

Preferred Customer Card

If your purchase is over $10 it is good towards a stamp on a 'Preferred Customer Card".  Every $10 gets you another stamp.  Once 10 stamps are on the card it is good for $10 off.  They staple the receipts to the card and need those back.  Photocopy them to keep for your own expense records.

To find Goodwill stores near you just type in "goodwill near me" in the Google search box on your smart phone.